Skin Rash and Food Allergies in Children

Skin rashes in children may result from various conditions, resulting in different types of rashes. Usually, skin rash due to allergic or non allergic reaction to foods, chemicals, plants, animals, insects or other environmental factors appears as red, itchy bumps or patches.

Alternatively, scaly patches of skin may be caused by a fungous or a bacterial infection.

Skin rashes in children can be localized, appearing in a certain part of the body, or systemic, coming out all over the body .

Localized skin rash is typical because of a skin contact with an allergen, that triggers the rash in the area that has being exposed to the allergenic substance.

A systemic skin rash often is due to a more generic allergic reaction to an ingested or inhaled allergen, as in food allergy or in allergic rhinitis, and may be coupled by other symptoms, including sneezing , nausea and swelling.

So, skin rash is a general name that includes several forms on allergic rashes. Main rash manifestations due to food allergies are:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
  The word dermatitis identifies an inflammation of the skin caused by allergies, and the term “atopy” indicates that the reaction is associated with allergies that usually are inherited by the family. So, atopic dermatitis is often a chronic condition that triggers a rash generally red, itchy, and scaly, usually located on the scalp, arms, legs, and torso.
  
  
• Hives (or urticaria)
  Urticaria is characterized by elevated patches of often discolored and itchy skin. Urticaria as a skin rash manifestation of a food allergy is very common in children.
  
  
• Angioedema
  Angoioedema indicates a condition when swelling occurs deep in the skin, especially around the face, lips and eyes. If irritated, swollen areas can be red, itchy and painful.

Beyond allergic reactions, other skin rash manifestations include:

• Psoriasis, that tends to occur as red, scaly, itchy patches over joints and along the scalp. Fingernails may be affected.
• Impetigo, an infection that is common in children and that is from bacteria that live in the top layers of the skin. Appears as red sores that turn into blisters, ooze, then crust over.
• Shingles, a painful blistered skin condition caused by the same virus as chickenpox. The virus can lie dormant in your body for many years and re-emerge as shingles.
• Childhood illnesses such as chicken pox, measles, roseola, rubella, hand-foot-mouth disease, fifth disease, and scarlet fever.
• Medications and insect bites or stings.

Source: Medline Plus – US National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health